Even as the desealing of properties in the capital is yet to take off, the MCD invites applications to avail of the scheme which provides relief under special laws.

Even as the desealing of properties in the capital is yet to take off despite a Central government directive, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has invited applications to avail of the scheme which provides relief under special laws.

The civic body is requesting affected people to submit an application to the Zonal Deputy Commissioner concerned for desealing their properties, which were once sealed on charges of misusing residential premises for commercial purposes, a senior MCD official said.

The notice comes 10 days after the Union Urban Development Ministry asked the local authorities to deseal premises protected under the Delhi Laws Special Provisions Act of 2007. The Ministry also asked them to suspend action against structures that came up before December 31, 2005.

"Zonal Deputy Directors have been asked to deseal all premises protected under the special laws and covered under the directions given by the Centre," the official said.

Structures in unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas and extensions, existing farm houses, slums and JJ clusters, schools, dispensaries, religious and cultural institutions, storage houses, warehouses and godowns used for storing agricultural products in rural areas built on agricultural land can avail of the scheme, he said.

However, the desealing did not take-off immediately and the MCD had earlier said it was in the process of identifying the structures which could avail the benefit. So far, only one property, located in south Delhi, was desealed.

While the Centre's decision was hailed by the ruling Congress as a "pro-people" move, opposition BJP had described it as a "political stunt" aimed at the coming assembly elections in Delhi.